This archive report was first published on 13 August 2019.
Published on August 13, 2019, a study presented at the Developing Excellence in Leadership, Training and Science (DELTAS) 2019 Conference has shed light on the risk factors for oesophageal cancer in Kenya.
According to Dr. Alfred Kiragu, the director of the National Cancer Institute, most cases of oesophageal cancer are diagnosed at advanced stages, leading to poor treatment outcomes.
Statistics from the 2018 GLOBOCAN report by the World Health Organisation (WHO) show that oesophageal cancer is the third most common cancer in Kenya, causing over 4,000 deaths annually.
Researchers have identified several risk factors for the disease, including dental fluorosis, which is common in the Rift Valley and parts of Western Kenya.
A study conducted in Eldoret found a nine-fold risk of developing oesophageal cancer among individuals with moderate or severe dental fluorosis.
Other risk factors include poor oral hygiene, including the use of mswaki sticks for brushing, and drinking hot beverages, such as tea.
Dr. Diana Menya, a senior lecturer and researcher at the Moi University College of Health Sciences, notes that knowing the contributing factors to oesophageal cancer helps in primary prevention by empowering people to adopt behaviour or lifestyles that reduce their risk of getting the disease.
She suggests that people can minimize the risk of oesophageal cancer associated with bad oral health by practicing good oral hygiene and that county governments can enact policies to promote access to treated and piped water systems.
